Chamber for blood treatment system, use of the chamber, blood tubing system and blood treatment system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a chamber for a blood treatment system with at least one space defined by a chamber wall and with at least one blood inlet and with at least one inlet for a further fluid, which are connected with the space, wherein both the at least one blood inlet and the at least one inlet for the further fluid are formed on tube sections which protrude into the space of the chamber, wherein in the operating condition of the chamber the space of the chamber is at least partly filled with blood or with a mixture of blood and the further fluid or some other fluid and wherein at least one, preferably both or a plurality of the tube sections have a length such that the blood inlet and/or the inlet for the further fluid are located below the blood or fluid level in the chamber.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/425,409 filed Dec. 21, 2010 and to European Patent Application No. 10015 895.5 filed Dec. 21, 2010, both of which are incorporated fully byreference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chamber for a blood treatment systemwith at least one space defined by a chamber wall as well as with atleast one blood inlet and with at least one inlet for a further fluid,which are connected with the space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From the prior art it is known to provide a venous drip chamberdownstream of the dialyzer of a dialysis machine, which is part of theextracorporeal blood circuit. The function of this venous drip chamberis to ensure a rather bubble-free reinfusion of the patient bloodpurified in the dialyzer to the patient.

From the prior art it is furthermore known to introduce an infusionsolution, such as purified dialysate or a salt solution, into such dripchamber. Such supply can be effected in connection with the so-calledpredilution before the dialyzer and/or in connection with the so-calledpostdilution after the dialyzer.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment known from the prior art in the form of a lidor headpiece of such venous drip chamber, on which a supply port 100 isarranged for the blood purified in the dialyzer.

Reference numeral 200 designates a supply port for said infusionsolution.

As can furthermore be taken from FIG. 4, it is known to introduce theblood into the chamber by means of a tube section 30, wherein the tubesection 30 includes an inlet 10 through which the blood is introducedinto the chamber, as is indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4.

Said infusion solution is introduced by means of the supply port 200,wherein the inlet for the infusion solution is located above the fluidor blood level in the chamber, which is designated with the referencenumeral 50. The infusion fluid drips or flows, as marked by the arrow inFIG. 4, onto the surface of the blood or the mixture of blood and theinfusion solution.

Such configuration of a drip chamber has the disadvantage that due tothe impingement of the infusion solution onto the surface of the fluidor blood present in the chamber the formation of microbubbles may occur,which can lead to an alarm condition being triggered and possibly thetreatment being stopped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is the object underlying the present invention to develop achamber as mentioned above to the effect that the formation ofmicrobubbles in the drip chamber is largely or completely prevented.

Accordingly, it is provided that both the at least one blood inlet andthe at least one inlet for the further fluid, such as an infusionsolution, are formed on tube sections which protrude into the space ofthe chamber. In contrast to the configuration according to the prior artas shown in FIG. 4 it thus is provided that the inlet for the infusionfluid and/or for the further fluid is formed on a tube section whichprotrudes into the space of the chamber in which the blood or themixture of blood and the infusion solution is contained.

In accordance with the present invention it is furthermore provided thatthe space of the chamber is at least partly filled with blood or with amixture of blood and a further fluid or with some other fluid and thatat least one of the tube sections has a length such that the blood inletand/or the inlet for the further fluid are located below the blood orfluid level in the chamber. In this way it is ensured that at least inthe operating condition of the chamber no dripping, not even from asmall height, onto the surface of the blood present in the chamber oronto the surface of the mixture of blood and infusion solution or otherfluid present in the chamber does occur. In accordance with a preferredaspect of the present invention, the blood and also the further fluidrather is introduced below the level of the blood or of the fluidpresent in the chamber. In this aspect the present invention thusrelates to a chamber for a blood treatment system, whose space is atleast partly filled with blood or with a mixture of blood and a furtherfluid or with some other fluid, wherein at least one of the tubesections has a length such that the blood inlet and/or the inlet for thefurther fluid are located below the fluid level or the blood level inthe space of the chamber.

In this way, it is possible to avoid dripping of the further fluid ontothe surface of the fluid or blood already present in the chamber andhence reduce the probability for the formation of microbubbles.

The term “tube section” should be interpreted broadly and comprises bothrigid and elastic elements which are suitable to pass blood or thefurther fluid into the chamber. Thus, for example solid, e.g. plastic,tube sections, hoses etc. are taken into consideration.

The diameter as well as the dimensions and the shape of these tubesections can largely be chosen as desired. For example, their inside andoutside diameter can be circular. However, configurations differenttherefrom are also comprised by the present invention. Furthermore, thepresent invention is not limited to the presence of exactly two tubesections. There can also be provided more than two tube sections, sothat the blood for example is introduced into the chamber through morethan one tube section and/or the further fluid is introduced throughmore than one tube section.

It is conceivable that at least one of the tube sections is arrangedsuch that in the operating condition of the chamber it extendsvertically or at an acute angle to the vertical. It thus is conceivablethat two or more tube sections are provided, which are arrangedsubstantially vertical and one of which includes one or more inlets forthe blood and/or the other one of which includes one or more inlets forthe further fluid.

The two tube sections can extend parallel or substantially parallel toeach other. However, an angular arrangement of the tube sectionsrelative to each other also is conceivable.

In a further aspect of the present invention it is provided that in theoperating condition of the chamber the space of the chamber is partlyfilled with blood or with a mixture of blood and the at least one fluidor some other fluid and that above the blood or fluid level an aircushion is disposed.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the tube sections have a differentlength or the same length. It is conceivable, for example, to design thetube section which carries the one or more inlets for the further fluidas long as or shorter or longer than the tube section which carries theone or more blood inlets.

It is particularly advantageous when the length of both tube sections issuch that the inlets for the blood and the further fluid are locatedbelow the fluid level in the chamber.

In a further aspect of the present invention at least one of the tubesections includes one or more blood inlets or one or more inlets for thefurther fluid. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the factthat each tube section only has exactly one inlet, but also comprisesthe case that two or more than two inlets are provided per tube section.

In a further aspect of the present invention it is provided that theblood inlet and/or the inlet for the further fluid is arranged in theend region of the tube section, which protrudes into the chamber.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one of the tube sectionsincludes a shell surface and an end surface protruding into the space ofthe chamber and that the at least one blood inlet and/or the at leastone inlet for the further fluid is at least partly or also completelyarranged in the shell surface. Due to this aspect of the presentinvention, a lateral introduction of the blood or further fluid, i.e. anintroduction from the side, is conceivable. In this aspect, the bloodand/or the further fluid thus is not introduced in a direction whichcoincides with the longitudinal axis of the tube section, but in adirection which extends at an angle thereto. It is conceivable that thisangle lies in the range between 30° and 150°, preferably in a rangebetween 60° and 120°, and particularly preferably in a range between 80°and 100° relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube section. If theangle is about 90°, for example, the blood thus flows first through theinterior of the tube section and then at right angles thereto out of thetube section through the inlet into the chamber.

In a further aspect of the present invention it is provided that atleast one of the tube sections includes a plurality of blood inlets or aplurality of inlets for the further fluid. This plurality of inlets canbe arranged such that the blood flows from the tube section into thechamber in different directions. The same can apply to said furtherfluid. It is conceivable that the two inlets are arranged such that theblood or the further fluid flows out of the tube sections on oppositesides, so that opposite flow directions are obtained.

It is furthermore conceivable that the plurality of inlets are arrangedat the same level, i.e. in the case of vertical tube sections at thesame vertical position of the tube sections, and/or that the pluralityof inlets have an identical size or also different sizes.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one of the tube sectionshas a wall in its end region protruding into the space of the chamberand that the at least one inlet is located adjacent to this wall. Thus,this wall can form the end of the tube section protruding into thespace. Adjacent to this wall one or more inlets for the blood or for thefurther fluid can be located.

As an alternative to the above described embodiment with two inlets pertube section it is of course also conceivable to form more than twoinlets, for example three or four inlets per tube section.

These inlets can be uniformly spaced in circumferential direction aroundthe respective tube section. A non-uniform distribution also isconceivable.

Said introduction of the blood or of the further fluid by means of aplurality of inlets spaced from each other in circumferential directioninvolves the advantage that a vortex formation inside the chamber iseffectively counteracted, which in turn involves the advantage that theoccurrence of microbubbles is largely or completely prevented.

The one or more inlets for the blood or the one or more inlets for thefurther fluid can be arranged such that the blood or the further fluidis introduced in radial direction of the chamber or directed towards thechamber wall or also in tangential direction of the chamber or incircumferential direction or also in a direction between these twodirections.

Furthermore it can be provided that the tube sections are spaced fromeach other, so that separate inlets for blood on the one hand and forthe further fluid on the other hand are present. Furthermore it can beprovided that the chamber includes a base body and a lid or headpiececlosing the base body and that the tube sections are arranged on the lidor headpiece and preferably extend through the lid or headpiece. The lidor headpiece can be firmly connected with the base body or also bereleasable from the base body. In the case of a fixed design it isconceivable to design the base body and the lid or headpiece in onepiece.

The present invention furthermore relates to the use of a chamber in ablood treatment system. Preferably the chamber is used as a venouschamber which is arranged downstream of a dialyzer.

In the operating condition of the chamber the space of the chamber canat least partly be filled with blood or with a mixture of blood and thefurther fluid or some other fluid and at least one of the tube sectionscan have a length such that the blood inlet and/or the inlet for thefurther fluid is located below the blood or fluid level in the chamber.As already explained above, the particularly preferred aspect of thepresent invention can be realized in that dripping of both the blood andthe further fluid onto the surface of the blood present in the chamberor onto the surface of the fluid present in the chamber is prevented.

In a further aspect of the present invention it is provided that in theoperating condition of the chamber the space of the chamber is partlyfilled with blood or with a mixture of blood and the further fluid orsome other fluid and that above the blood an air cushion is disposed.

Furthermore, it can be provided that in the operating condition of thechamber at least one of the tube sections extends vertically or at anacute angle to the vertical.

As already explained above, it is advantageous when the one or moreinlets for the blood and/or for the further fluid are formed on the tubesection such that the blood and/or the further fluid exits from the tubesection at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube section. Thisangle can lie for example in the range between 30° and 150°, preferablyin a range between 60° and 120°, and particularly preferably in a rangebetween 80° and 100°.

At least one of the tube sections can have a plurality of inlets whichare arranged on the tube section such that the blood and/or the furtherfluid is discharged from the respective tube section in at least twodifferent directions. In this way, too, the formation of vortices in thechamber and hence also the occurrence of microbubbles can largely orcompletely be prevented.

The further fluid can be an infusion solution, in particular a dialysissolution or a salt solution, such as a sodium chloride solution. Thesame is mixed with blood in the space of the chamber and then thismixture is supplied to the patient.

The present invention furthermore relates to a blood tubing system withat least one chamber. It can be provided that the blood tubing system isprovided with a predilution port and/or with a postdilution port andthat one or both of these ports are in fluid connection with the tubesection for the further fluid or are connectable to form a fluidconnection.

The present invention furthermore relates to a blood treatment systemwith at least one chamber or with at least one blood tubing system.

In an advantageous aspect of the present invention it is provided thatthe blood treatment system is a dialysis machine. The dialysis machinecan be configured to perform a hemodialysis, a hemofiltration or also ahemodiafiltration with said machine.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the further fluid is provided bythe dialysis machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details and advantages of the present invention will beexplained in detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in thedrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a lid of a chamber of thepresent invention in a view obliquely from below.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation through a tube section withinlets for blood or the further fluid.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 withindicated flow directions for the blood and for the further fluid.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a lid of a venous drip chamber from theprior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In a perspective view obliquely from below, FIG. 1 shows a head or lidregion 60 of a venous chamber of an extracorporeal blood circuit of adialysis machine.

Reference numeral 100 designates the supply port for the blood, andreference numeral 200 designates the supply port for the infusionsolution. The supply port 100 is connected with the extracorporeal bloodcircuit. Through the supply port 100, the blood purified in the dialyzerflows into the venous chamber of the present invention, whose lid orheadpiece 60 is shown in FIG. 1.

The supply port 200 for the infusion solution is connected with asuitable source for the infusion solution, such as dialysate, a sodiumchloride solution, etc. Through this port 200, the infusion solution issupplied to the chamber. In the illustrated embodiment, this supplytakes place downstream of the dialyzer, so that there is a postdilution.

In principle, however, the present invention is not limited thereto, butprovides for using a chamber also in the region of the predilution.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 50 designates the blood level or the levelof the fluid present in the chamber. This fluid consists either of bloodonly or of a mixture of blood and said infusion fluid or of some otherfluid. As can furthermore be taken from FIG. 1, the supply port 100preferably is firmly or integrally connected with the tube section 30,and the supply port 200 preferably is firmly or integrally connectedwith the tube section 40 extending parallel thereto. Both tube sections30, 40 are spaced from each other, as can be taken from FIG. 1. Thesupply ports 100, 200 can be an integral part of the tube sections 30,40 or be connected with the same in a suitable way. It is alsoconceivable that the tube sections 30, 40 and/or the supply ports 100,200 are integral parts of the lid or of the headpiece 60 of the chamberor are connected with the same in some other way, for example insertedinto the same.

Reference numeral L designates the longitudinal axes of the two tubesections 30, 40 which protrude into the space of the chamber which onthe head side is closed off by the headpiece 60 or by the lid 60.

As can furthermore be taken from FIG. 1, each of the tube sections 30,40 includes an inlet 10, 21 in its shell surface 31, 41, through whichblood on the one hand and the infusion fluid on the other hand gets intothe fluid or blood already present in the chamber.

FIG. 1 furthermore shows that both the inlet 10 for the blood and theinlet 21 for the further solution or for the infusion fluid is locatedbelow the level 50 of the fluid or blood already present in the chamber.FIG. 1 furthermore shows that the inlets 10, 21 are not arranged in thedownwardly pointing end region 32, 42 of the tube sections 30, 40, butare arranged at least also or exclusively laterally, so that the bloodor the further fluid exits from the tube sections 30, 40 laterally or atleast also in a lateral direction.

In accordance with the present embodiment it thus is provided that boththe inlet for the infusion solution and the inlet for the blood islocated below the level 50 of the blood already present in the chamberor of the mixture of blood and infusion solution or some other fluid.

Furthermore, it is provided in accordance with the present embodimentthat separate inlets for blood on the one hand and for the furthersolution on the other hand are present.

As can furthermore be taken from FIG. 1, the tube section 40 whichcarries the inlet for the further solution is formed slightly shorterthan the tube section 30 which carries the inlet 10 for the blood. Inprinciple it is also conceivable to design these two tube sections 30,40 of identical length or to provide the height or position of therespective inlets 10, 21 at the same level or to design the tube section40 longer than the tube section 30.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation through the tube section 30 oralso through the tube section 40. As can be taken from FIG. 2, the tubesection 30, 40 is an integral part of the lid and preferably formedintegrally with the same. Thus, an integrated infusion port can berealized by the present invention.

From FIG. 2 it can furthermore be taken that both the tube section 30for supplying blood and the tube section 40 for supplying the furtherfluid is each formed with two inlets 10, 11, 20, 21 which directlyadjoin the end-side wall 32, 42. As can also be taken from FIG. 3, theseinlets are arranged opposite each other, which results in that the bloodor the further solution exits from the respective tube section 30, 40 onopposite sides and enters the fluid already present in the chamber. Thiscan be taken for example from FIG. 3. Here, reference numeral 30designates the tube section for supplying blood, and reference numerals10, 11 designate the inlets for blood. These inlets are arranged at theside of the tube section 30, i.e. laterally and in an opposed manner,which results in that, as shown in FIG. 3, the blood is discharged fromthe tube section 30 in opposed, i.e. in opposite directions.

This applies to the formation of the tube section 40 for supplying thefurther fluid. Here as well two opposed inlets 20, 21 are provided,which likewise have a different size. As shown in FIG. 3, the flowdirections of the blood and of the further fluid are parallel whenflowing out of the tube sections 30 and 40. However, a non-paralleloutflow of blood on the one hand and of the further solution on theother hand also is comprised by the present invention.

In principle, the present invention also comprises the case that therespective inlets 10, 11 and 20, 21 are designed with an identical size.The inlets 10, 11 and 20, 21 can be arranged on the tube section at anidentical level or also at different levels.

As can furthermore be taken from FIG. 3, the inlets are arranged such inthe embodiment shown here that the inflow direction of the blood or ofthe further fluid is neither radial relative to the shell surface of thehousing or of the lid of the chamber, which is cylindrical or circularin cross-section, nor tangential. Rather, it is provided here that theinflow direction of the blood or of the further fluid is effected in adirection which lies between the radial and the tangential direction. Bymeans of this aspect of the present invention a better intermixing ofthe blood and of the infusion fluid is achieved and there is noturbulent effect which would lead to the level descending in the middleof the chamber and ascending at the sides thereof. Rather, it isachieved by the illustrated embodiment that the fluid level 50 or thesurface of the fluid in the chamber remains largely flat, so that thevortex formation is largely or completely prevented, which in turnresults in the fact that the occurrence of microbubbles or foam isprevented.

The venous drip chamber shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with separate inlets forblood and the further fluid and with the special design of the inletsfor blood and fluid at the tube section involves the advantage thatneither a dripping of blood and/or the further solution onto the surfaceof the fluid or blood present in the chamber is effected as well as thefurther advantage that a vortex formation and hence a foam formation ora formation of microbubbles is largely or completely prevented. The oneor more tube sections 30, 40 can be manufactured by the method ofinjection molding. In this method, providing the further openings 11, 21involves certain advantages as regards the stability and the simplicityof the performance of the method. Thus, it is preferably provided thatthe lid or the headpiece 60 as a whole or at least the tube sections 30,40 are manufactured by the method of injection molding.

The chamber of the present invention in particular is advantageouslyapplicable in connection with the hemodiafiltration postdilutiontreatment and preferably in connection with the online HDF postdilution.

Thus, the supply port 200 preferably is a port for an infusion solutionwhich is supplied to the blood after purifying the same in the dialyzer.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drip chamber for a blood treatment systemcomprising: a chamber wall having a top; a space defined by the chamberwall; a lid closing the space at the top of the chamber wall; a firsttube section arranged on the lid, extending through the lid, andextending downwardly from the lid into the space; a second tube sectionarranged on the lid, extending through the lid, and extending downwardlyfrom the lid into the space, wherein a portion of the lid extendsbetween the first and second tube sections in a direction other than adownward direction; at least two first inlets for a first fluidcomprising blood, the at least two first inlets being formed in aportion of the first tube section that extends downwardly from the lidand into the space; at least two second inlets for a second fluidcomprising an infusion fluid to be mixed with the blood, the at leasttwo second inlets being formed in a portion of the second tube sectionthat extends downwardly from the lid and into the space; wherein the atleast two first inlets and the at least two second inlets are connectedwith the space, wherein the first tube section has a first longitudinalaxis, comprises a first shell wall surrounding the first longitudinalaxis, comprises a first end wall in the space, and comprises a bloodsupply port, the first longitudinal axis passing through the first endwall, the at least two first inlets arranged laterally in the firstshell wall and circumferentially spaced apart from one another, whereinthe second tube section has a second longitudinal axis, comprises asecond shell wall surrounding the second longitudinal axis, comprises asecond end wall in the space, and comprises an infusion fluid supplyport, the second longitudinal axis passing through the second end wall,the at least two second inlets arranged laterally in the second shellwall and circumferentially spaced apart from one another, and wherein,in an operating condition, the space is at least partly filled up to afluid level with the first fluid or with a mixture of the first fluidand the second fluid, an air cushion is disposed above the fluid level,each of the first and second tube sections extends downwardly from thelid, through the air cushion, and below the fluid level in the space,and the at least two first inlets and the at least two second inlets arelocated below the fluid level in the space.
 2. The drip chamberaccording to claim 1, wherein the space defined by the chamber wall hasa vertical axis, and, in the operating condition, at least one of thefirst tube section and the second tube section extends parallel to thevertical axis or at an acute angle to the vertical axis.
 3. The dripchamber according to claim 1, wherein, in the operating condition, thefirst tube section and the second tube section extend parallel orsubstantially parallel to each other.
 4. The drip chamber according toclaim 1, wherein the first tube section and the second tube section havedifferent lengths.
 5. The drip chamber according to claim 1, wherein theat least two first inlets are arranged adjacent the first end wall, theat least two second inlets are arranged adjacent the second end wall, orboth.
 6. The drip chamber according to claim 1, wherein the at least twofirst inlets are located opposite one another in the first shell wall,and the at least two second inlets are located opposite one another inthe second shell wall.
 7. The drip chamber according to claim 1, whereinthe at least two first inlets and the at least two second inlets areformed such that the first and second fluids exit from the first andsecond tube sections, respectively, at angles to the first and secondlongitudinal axes.
 8. The drip chamber according to claim 7, wherein theangles lie in the range of from between 30° and 150°.
 9. The dripchamber according to claim 7, wherein each of the angles lies in therange of from between 60° and 120°.
 10. The drip chamber according toclaim 7, wherein each of the angles lies in the range of from between80° and 100°.
 11. The drip chamber according to claim 1, wherein thespace is at least partly filled up to the fluid level with the blood orwith a mixture of the blood and the infusion fluid.
 12. The drip chamberaccording to claim 1, wherein the first tube section and the second tubesection have the same length.
 13. The drip chamber according to claim 1,wherein the at least two first inlets are arranged on opposite sides ofthe first tube section, are arranged at a common depth along the firsttube section, and are of the same size.
 14. A method of using a venousdrip chamber in a blood treatment system, wherein the venous dripchamber comprises: a chamber wall having a top; a space defined by thechamber wall; a lid closing the space at the top of the chamber wall; afirst tube section arranged on the lid, extending through the lid, andextending downwardly from the lid into the space; a second tube sectionarranged on the lid, extending through the lid, and extending downwardlyfrom the lid into the space, wherein a portion of the lid extendsbetween the first and second tube sections in a direction other than adownward direction; at least two first inlets for blood, the at leasttwo first inlets being formed in a portion of the first tube sectionthat extends downwardly from the lid and into the space; at least twosecond inlets for an infusion fluid to be mixed with the blood, the atleast two second inlets being formed in a portion of the second tubesection that extends downwardly from the lid and into the space, whereinthe at least two first inlets and the at least two second inlets are influid communication with the space, wherein the first tube section has afirst longitudinal axis, comprises a first shell wall surrounding thefirst longitudinal axis, comprises a first end wall in the space, andcomprises a blood supply port, the first longitudinal axis passingthrough the first end wall, the at least two first inlets arrangedlaterally in the first shell wall and circumferentially spaced apartfrom one another, and wherein the second tube section has a secondlongitudinal axis, comprises a second shell wall surrounding the secondlongitudinal axis, comprises a second end wall in the space, andcomprises an infusion fluid supply port, the second longitudinal axispassing through the second end wall, the at least two second inletsarranged laterally in the second shell wall and circumferentially spacedapart from one another; an extracorporeal blood circuit connected withthe blood supply port; and a supply of infusion fluid in fluidcommunication with the infusion fluid supply port, the methodcomprising: at least partly filling the space with the blood or with amixture of the blood and the infusion fluid, up to a fluid level, toform an air cushion above the fluid level, wherein each of the first andsecond tube sections extends downwardly from the lid, through the aircushion, and below the fluid level in the space, and the at least twofirst inlets and the at least two second inlets are located below thefluid level in the space.
 15. The method according to claim 14, furthercomprising maintaining an air cushion above the fluid level.
 16. Themethod according to claim 14, wherein the space defined by the chamberwall has a vertical axis, and at least one of the first and second tubesections extends parallel to the vertical axis or at an acute angle tothe vertical axis.
 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the atleast two first inlets and the at least two second inlets are formed onthe first and second tube sections, respectively, such that fluid exitsfrom the first and second tube sections at angles to the first andsecond longitudinal axes.
 18. The method according to claim 17, whereinthe angles lie in the range of from between 30° and 150°.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 17, wherein each of the angles lies in the range offrom between 60° and 120°.
 20. The method according to claim 17, whereineach of the angles lies in the range of from between 80° and 100°. 21.The method according to claim 14, wherein the infusion fluid is aninfusion solution comprising sodium chloride.
 22. The method accordingto claim 14, wherein the infusion fluid is a dialysis solution or a saltsolution.
 23. A blood tubing system comprising a drip chamber for ablood treatment system, the drip chamber comprising: a chamber wallhaving a top; at least one space defined by the chamber wall; a lidclosing the space at the top of the chamber wall; a first tube sectionarranged on the lid, extending through the lid, and extending downwardlyfrom the lid into the space; a second tube section arranged on the lid,extending through the lid, and extending downwardly from the lid intothe space, wherein a portion of the lid extends between the first andsecond tube sections in a direction other than a downward direction; atleast two first inlets for a first fluid comprising blood, the at leasttwo first inlets being formed in a portion of the first tube sectionthat extends downwardly from the lid and into the space; and at leasttwo second inlets for a second fluid comprising an infusion fluid to bemixed with the blood, the at least two second inlets being formed in aportion of the second tube section that extends downwardly from the lidand into the space, a predilution port, a postdilution port, or both,wherein the at least two first inlets and the at least two second inletsare in fluid communication with the space, wherein the first tubesection has a first longitudinal axis, comprises a first shell wallsurrounding the first longitudinal axis, comprises a first end wall inthe space, and comprises a blood supply port, the first longitudinalaxis passing through the first end wall, the at least two first inletsarranged laterally in the first shell wall and circumferentially spacedapart from one another, wherein the second tube section has a secondlongitudinal axis, comprises a second shell wall surrounding the secondlongitudinal axis, comprises a second end wall in the space, andcomprises an infusion fluid supply port, the second longitudinal axispassing through the second end wall, the at least two second inletsarranged laterally in the second shell wall and circumferentially apartfrom one another, wherein, in an operating condition, the space is atleast partly filled up to a fluid level with the first fluid or with amixture of the first fluid and the second fluid, an air cushion isdisposed above the fluid level, each of the first and second tubesections extends downwardly from the lid, through the air cushion, andbelow the fluid level in the space, the at least two first inlets andthe at least two second inlets are located below the fluid level in thespace, and the predilution port, the postdilution port, or both, are influid communication with the second tube section; an extracorporealblood circuit connected with the blood supply port; and a supply ofinfusion fluid in fluid communication with the infusion fluid supplyport.
 24. The blood tubing system according to claim 23, wherein theblood treatment system is a dialysis machine.
 25. A drip chamber for ablood treatment system comprising: a chamber wall having a top; a spacepartially defined by the chamber wall; a lid connected to the chamberwall at the top of the chamber wall and further defining the space; afirst tube section arranged on the lid, extending through the lid, andextending downwardly from the lid into the space; a second tube sectionarranged on the lid, extending through the lid, and extending downwardlyfrom the lid into the space, wherein a portion of the lid extendsbetween the first and second tube sections in a direction other than adownward direction; at least two blood inlets, the at least two bloodinlets being formed in a portion of the first tube section that extendsdownwardly from the lid and into the space; and at least two secondinlets for an infusion fluid, the at least two second inlets beingformed in a portion of the second tube section that extends downwardlyfrom the lid and into the space, wherein the at least two blood inletsand the at least two second inlets are in fluid communication with thespace, wherein both the first and second tube sections protrude into thespace, the first tube section has a first longitudinal axis, comprises afirst shell wall surrounding the first longitudinal axis, comprises afirst end wall in the space, and comprises a blood supply port, thefirst longitudinal axis passes through the first end wall, the at leasttwo blood inlets are arranged in the first shell wall and arecircumferentially spaced apart from one another, the second tube sectionhas a second longitudinal axis, comprises a second shell wallsurrounding the second longitudinal axis, comprises a second end wall inthe space, and comprises an infusion fluid supply port, the secondlongitudinal axis passes through the second end wall, and the at leasttwo second inlets are arranged in the second shell wall and arecircumferentially spaced apart from one another, wherein, in anoperating condition of the chamber, the space is at least partly filledup to a fluid level with blood or a mixture of blood and the infusionfluid, an air cushion is disposed above the fluid level, and each of thefirst and second tube sections extends downwardly from the lid, throughthe air cushion, and below the fluid level in the space, wherein boththe first tube section and the second tube section have a length suchthat the at least two blood inlets and the at least two second inletsare located below a blood level or a fluid level in the chamber, whereinthe at least two blood inlets and the at least two second inlets arearranged on opposite sides of the respective first and second tubesections so that inflow directions of the blood and of the infusionfluid are directions that lie between a radial direction and atangential direction relative to the lid, and wherein the blood supplyport is connected with an extracorporeal blood circuit and the infusionfluid supply port is in fluid communication with a supply of infusionfluid.